Telepsychiatry

Telemental health session

Telepsychiatry or telemental health refers to the use of telecommunications technology (mostly videoconferencing and phone calls) to deliver psychiatric care remotely for people with mental health conditions. It is a branch of telemedicine.[1][2]

Telepsychiatry can be effective in treating people with mental health conditions. In the short-term it can be as acceptable and effective as face-to-face care.[3] Research also suggests comparable therapeutic factors, such as changes in problematic thinking or behaviour. [4]

It can improve access to mental health services for some but might also represent a barrier for those lacking access to a suitable device, the internet or the necessary digital skills. Factors such as poverty that are associated with lack of internet access are also associated with greater risk of mental health problems, making digital exclusion an important problem of telemental health services.[3]

During the COVID-19 pandemic mental health services were adapted to telemental health in high-income countries. It proved effective and acceptable for use in an emergency situation but there were concerns regarding its long-term implementation.[5]

  1. ^ "What is Telepsychiatry?". American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  2. ^ "What is Telemental Health?". National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  3. ^ a b Schlief, Merle; Saunders, Katherine R K; Appleton, Rebecca; Barnett, Phoebe; Vera San Juan, Norha; Foye, Una; Olive, Rachel Rowan; Machin, Karen; Shah, Prisha; Chipp, Beverley; Lyons, Natasha; Tamworth, Camilla; Persaud, Karen; Badhan, Monika; Black, Carrie-Ann (2022-09-29). "Synthesis of the Evidence on What Works for Whom in Telemental Health: Rapid Realist Review". Interactive Journal of Medical Research. 11 (2): e38239. doi:10.2196/38239. ISSN 1929-073X. PMC 9524537. PMID 35767691.
  4. ^ Schuster, Raphael; Fischer, Elena; Jansen, Chiara; Napravnik, Nathalie; Rockinger, Susanne; Steger, Nadine; Laireiter, Anton-Rupert (2022). "Blending Internet-based and tele group treatment: Acceptability, effects, and mechanisms of change of cognitive behavioral treatment for depression". Internet Interventions. 29. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2022.100551. PMC 9204733. PMID 35722084.
  5. ^ Appleton, Rebecca; Williams, Julie; Vera San Juan, Norha; Needle, Justin J; Schlief, Merle; Jordan, Harriet; Sheridan Rains, Luke; Goulding, Lucy; Badhan, Monika; Roxburgh, Emily; Barnett, Phoebe; Spyridonidis, Spyros; Tomaskova, Magdalena; Mo, Jiping; Harju-Seppänen, Jasmine (2021-12-09). "Implementation, Adoption, and Perceptions of Telemental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review". Journal of Medical Internet Research. 23 (12): e31746. doi:10.2196/31746. ISSN 1438-8871. PMC 8664153. PMID 34709179.